A Sturgeon County Councillor who voted to exile Boonstock from Gibbons, Alta. last fall is not surprised to see the music festival running into trouble at its new location in Penticton, B.C.

“History has a tendency to repeat itself,” Sturgeon County councillor Karen Shaw said Sunday.

A 24-year-old Leduc woman died following a drug overdose at the festival early Saturday morning and dozens more have been taken to hospital for overconsumption of drugs and alcohol.

The company initially set to run security for the concert backed out a month ago, citing cutbacks in safety measures and directions from organizers to keep information from police and the B.C. liquor board.

The replacement security company, 24/7 Security, came under fire Sunday after two of its employees were caught on video trying to steal a bottle of booze from Last Call Liquor Mart in Penticton.

Boonstock also lost its liquor licence this year due to a list of health and safety concerns including limited availability of clean drinking water.

The rock and electronic music festival operated in Gibbons - about 40 kilometres north of Edmonton – for nine years until Sturgeon County Council voted in September to deny its 2014 permit following complaints from residents about drugs, violence and vandalism.

Shaw said the decision was based on reports from external agencies that showed ongoing safety and security deficiencies while the festival continued to grow, drawing 14,000 people in 2013.

“Based on those external reports from the external agencies - RCMP, Alberta Transportation, Alberta Health, multiple stakeholders, emergency services – the issues of safety and security weren’t addressed. And it was very, very clear in those reports,” she said.

“It never met the criteria. So was it the right decision? Absolutely.”

An Interior Health spokesperson said Sunday that 43 people have been taken to hospital from Boonstock since 7 a.m. Friday.

Paramedics brought 26 concertgoers to the emergency room between 7 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday, up from 17 the previous day.

“The majority of them are drug and alcohol related,” said Grace Kucey.

“We want people to be careful, and we just want to remind people that they need to keep hydrated. Because they’re outside in hot and dusty conditions. They should avoid increasing their health risks by mixing alcohol and drugs together.”

Boonstock was scheduled to wrap up Sunday night following a performance by headliners Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Festival troubles justify choice to move it from Alberta: Councillor

A Sturgeon County Councillor who voted to exile Boonstock from Gibbons, Alta. last fall is not surprised to see the music festival running into trouble at its new location in Penticton, B.C.

“History has a tendency to repeat itself,” Sturgeon County councillor Karen Shaw said Sunday.

A 24-year-old Leduc woman died following a drug overdose at the festival early Saturday morning and dozens more have been taken to hospital for overconsumption of drugs and alcohol.

The company initially set to run security for the concert backed out a month ago, citing cutbacks in safety measures and directions from organizers to keep information from police and the B.C. liquor board.

The replacement security company, 24/7 Security, came under fire Sunday after two of its employees were caught on video trying to steal a bottle of booze from Last Call Liquor Mart in Penticton.